FRANCHISE

FRANCHISE. This word has several significations: 1. It is a right reserved to the people by the constitution; hence we say, the elective franchise, to designate the right of the people to elect their officers. 2. It is a certain privilege, conferred by grant from the government, and Vested in individuals.

2. Corporations, or bodies politic, are the most usual franchises known to our law. They have been classed among incorporealhereditaments, perhaps improperly, as they have no inheritable quality.